The Record-Review – The official newspaper of Bedford and Pound Ridge, New York

June 10, 2011

Historic moment on Main Street

It wasn’t a holiday, a memorial or other historic event. Instead, at the instigation of some civic-minded residents, Pound Ridge Pride Day originated with the vision of revitalizing the hamlet of Scotts Corners. Through the efforts of Alison Boak, Supervisor Gary Warshauer, Police Chief Dave Ryan and Scotts Corner Market’s Billy Fortin — among hundreds of organizers, volunteers and participants — the Pound Ridge Pride Day encompassed everything that is beautiful about living in Pound Ridge.

What is it that makes the community so quintessentially American? Anyone wanting to see should take a look at the pictures in this issue: the fun booths for kids, the music playing for all, the sophisticated shops and merchants lining the streets, the great food to satisfy any appetite and a spirit of warmth and camaraderie so sadly lacking in so many facets of our digital age. In a time when people are more likely to interact with their neighbors via Facebook than the town square, this event hit a home run. All ages were in attendance, including some of the oldsters who remember the community when the population was a little smaller and everybody knew everybody.

Those days, as we saw on Sunday, are not so far gone by.

Yours truly, Greg Ball

Just when you thought politics couldn’t get any weirder: this week witnessed the distortion of Paul Revere’s historic ride by Sarah Palin; the indictment of former presidential candidate John Edwards; and the Tweet-gate of Manhattan Congressman Anthony Weiner.

In northern Westchester, Greg Ball, who serves New York’s 40th District, which includes Bedford and Pound Ridge, is likely giving a big high-five to Anthony Weiner. Because without Mr. Weiner, Mr. Ball’s shuffling and sliding regarding a letter sent to several area newspapers would surely be above the fold.

Dan Branda, deputy communications director for Mr. Ball, delivered a letter to a series of newspapers (including this one) allegedly from a family grateful for the senator’s help in assisting their 21-year-old disabled daughter. The letter was signed by Robyn Fields, a South Salem resident.

Ms. Fields told The Record-Review that the letter came from a “phony email account in my name,” and then Mr. Branda tried to “cover up” that he was responsible.

After the letter ran in two papers, Mr. Branda called other media outlets —including The Record-Review — asking that the letter be withheld. Mr. Branda refused to directly answer whether he had created the email account in the name of Ms. Fields.

In a short political career that has already seen a dead goat, accusations of sexual misconduct, racial polarization, negative campaigning, incendiary robocalls and creation of a controversial “anti-terrorist” forum, Mr. Ball never fails to disappoint those seeking tawdry political hijinks.

Ironically, while declining to sign on to ethics reform in Albany sponsored by State Sen. Sandy Galef, the 89th District’s Assemblyman Robert Castelli and others, Mr. Ball is sponsoring his own ethics bill.

That should go the same way as American history lessons from Ms. Palin or social media tips from Anthony Weiner. Mr. Ball continues to work his way up the ladder, one scandal at a time.